RSS FeedsHydrologic Summary for June 2002 for the Area Served by the NWS Forecast Office at Sioux Falls, SD
Summary
There was no river flooding in the area during June. However, there were several flash flood events resulting from thunderstorms which produced heavy rains.
Flooding
The first flash flood event in June occurred in southwest Minnesota in Pipestone County on the 3rd. Average rainfall of 2 to 4 inches fell in a period of 1 to 3 hours. No estimate on monetary damages was available at this time, and no injuries had been reported.
The second event was in the Sioux City area on the 8th. Average rainfall of 2 to 3 inches with isolated amounts to 4 inches fell across the basin with this event. Union, Dakota, and Woodbury counties all received flash flooding during this event. The Sioux City metro area experienced urban flooding with many roads and intersections under water. There were no reports of injuries, and no estimate on monetary damages was available at this time.
The next flash flooding event was in the Iowa Great Lakes region, near Spirit Lake, on the 11th. Rainfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches were reported. There were no reports of injuries, and no estimate of monetary damages was available at this time.
The final event in June occurred on the 21st. Woodbury county received very intense rainfall rates of greater than 2 inches per hour in the early morning hours. The rapid runoff from these rains caused flash flooding in the Climbing Hill area. Later that same evening, another round of heavy rains caused flash flooding in Lyon county Minnesota, north of Marshall. There were no reports of injuries, and no estimate of monetary damages from either of these events was available at this time.
General Hydrologic Information
Temperatures in June were above to much above normal across the region. Most areas recorded average monthly temperatures 4 to 5 degrees above normal. Precipitation for the month varied greatly across the region. The western areas only received 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches, which is 2 to 3 inches below normal. The central areas reported 2 to 3 inches of rain in June. This is around 1 inch below normal. The eastern areas, in southwest Minnesota and northwest Iowa, received 3 to 5 inches of rain last month. This is near normal to 1 1/2 inches above normal.
Stream flows at the end of May were near normal to slightly above normal in the eastern parts of the region. Southeastern and south-central South Dakota, and the immediately adjacent areas of northwest Iowa were reporting stream flows that were 25 to 50 percent of normal. The long term drought indices show near normal conditions in northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota, and slightly to moderately dry conditions in South Dakota. The U.S. Drought Monitor has classified all of southeastern South Dakota as D0 (abnormally dry), and D1 (moderate drought) classifications along the Missouri River in central South Dakota. Soil moisture is below normal (1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches) across the region, running at 75 to 85 percent of normal at the end of June. The dry conditions have not persisted long enough to cause any serious water supply or agricultural problems for the majority of the region yet, but many counties and communities started to impose water restrictions toward the end of the month.
Mike Gillispie
July 9, 2002
July 9, 2002
